Wilcox



wrLLiAus.- wrLcoX, oFWELLrNGToN, OHIO. 'Leners pensativo; 83,429, democrazia 27,1868.

' TRAP-NET.

The Schedule referred to in these Letterel Patent 'and of the same.

To all whom 'it mal/y concern:

Beit known that I, WILLIAM S. WILooX, of Wellington, in the county of Lorain, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pound Trap-Nets; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and complete description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part ofthis specication, in which- Figure l is a top View of the net.

Figure 2 is a side view.

Like letters of reference `refer to like parts in the dierent views. i The natureof this invention consists'in the connecting the pound-section of the net to the trap, so

y that the two, when thus connected, are `more easily' and softly handled, and the trapped fish more securely confined thanis done-in the ordinary net. The improvement also consists in the manner of setting the t net, without the use of stakes or poles, when said net is required to be setin deep wate .i The construction of the net, and manner of setting the same, are as follows, viz:

\ In fig. 1, A represents the pound-section ofthe net,

which is constructedof netting, and of the usual shape and size as nets in ordinary use. r

B 'is the trail or lead of the net, and which is connected to the pound by the `funnel-or throat C.

The usual manner of connecting the twois as follows: The vinner end of the funnel is drawn into the pound, through an opening made in the side, and therein secured, as shown in the drawing. i

The sides of the opening are made to t close to the s ides of the funnel, by drawing taut the` netting bythe cords l), by which `the end ofthe pound is kept extended, and secured to the stakes E. l

It not unfrequently happens that the sides of the opening, enclosing the funnel, become loose, .in consequence of the slackening of the cords,l or the yielding of .theposts from a vertical position, the result of which is to cause an opening between the sides of the funnel and the aperture in the side of the pound, through which the iish often escape, either whilethe net is set,

or on the pound being hauleeLup for taking out the sh. ,In this way great loss is sometimes incurred, though much care may be exercised in setting the net, or haulingthe same.

In order to guard against this loss, I oonstructa supplementary funnel, G, proceeding from the mouth of the funnel 0, to which it is attached, outward, and back to the opening in the` side of the pound. To the sides of this opening, the wide end of the funnel is closely attached.

By this arrangemenait will be seen that the funnel `or throat O is enclosed by the funnel G, thereby pref senting 'a wall of netting from. the opening to the mouth H. Hence, should the sides of the opening become loose and fall away from the throat O, no opening lwill be made through which the sh can escape from the pound; and so the hauling up the pound, for the purpose of taking out the sh, and the slackening of the ropes D can in no way disturb the security of the net,it being all close and tightat the mouth, though unconnected to the throat at any other point.

,-Thenet, as above described, is shown as being secured in place by the stakes E,tofwhich the net is lashed. This manner of securing the net is practicable only inwater of little depth and of a soft bottom. It is sometimes necessary to set it in water so deep that poles of suii'cientlength are. dicult to be obtained, or where the bottom is of such a nature that 'the stakes cannot be driven.

Instead ofthe stakes, I propose nto use heavyweights, J, to which the lower cords of the net are fastened. These weights are sunk at the proper places, and the net Adrawn down toA themby a rope, I, which is run through a ring attached to the weight. It will be obvious that a double rope, or rather` two ropes will be required for this purpose, one for drawingdown the net, and the other for the purpose of. hauling it up, as is always practised when stakes. are used, and which is represented iniig.r2, in which it willbe seen that the rope is run through the lower end ,of the stake, a hole being provided for that purpose. Thus the .net is drawn down by one line, and hauled up by the other,

' all being secured when the net is set to the upper end of the stake, as seen-at B'.

When no stakes are used, the endsjof the lines or ropes are secured to buoys, and which also serve to4 give tension to the net, and' thereby` keep it in proper shape.

By the use of weights, instead of stakes, forI setting the net, it can be as well set entirely under the water,

.or partially above, as is usuallypractised. Should it bev set under the water, a cover, 0', is required, as shown in iig.- 1, thereby closing the pound on every side, so that the sh cannot escape over the top, which they would do were the pound set below the surface of the water without such cover.

'Thekmalner of trapping the iish is as follows The net is set a shown in iig. l, with the spreading, diverging wings B toward the shore, in shallow water. The instinct of the creatures leads them from the shallow waters of the beach, when they may have wandered outward to deep 'Shoals vAs they move outward, they I are guided bythe wings down to the throat'O, through which they follow along into the pound, and never re;

turn.

The iishlare taken out from, the pound by throwing back a portion at a time of the covering, and, on releasing tle cords, draw up the pound, slowly'and carefully, until the sh are within reach, which are then seized and cast into the boat. This operation is donewithout disturbing the throat and wings of the trap, the pound only being raised.

What I claim as my improvement,and desire'to secure by Letters Patent, is--` 1. The supplementary funnel G, and cover O', as`

arranged,in combination with the funnel O and pound A, in the manner as and for the purpose set'forth.

2. The use of weights, J, forsinking aud anchoring the net, in combination with buoys, in tle manner substantially as described.

Witnesses J. H. BURRIDGE, FRANK VS. ALBEN.

WM. S. WILOOX. l 

